Amigo lands his second race win at Sandown
A gelding operation looks to have turned around the fortunes of high-priced yearling Amigo who landed his second race win at Sandown.
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained galloper took out the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap (1000m) on Wednesday to remain unbeaten following a gelding operation.
Amigo was a $975,000 yearling purchase at the 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions Sale and was having his sixth start on Wednesday.
Sent out the $2.60 favourite under Luke Nolen, Amigo scored by one-and-a-half lengths from Kahhof ($9.50) with Pia Mia ($4.40) a short-neck away third.
Amigo is part-owned by longtime Moody client Ron Wanless.
“He’s two for two as a gelding and that’s the good thing about the Wanless family,” Moody said.
“They paid a lot of money for him, but Ron always says, ‘treat them as your own, we’re after racehorses, not stallions’.
“I have to thank the Wanless family, as they put a fair bit in. We nutted a little bit off the bill last time (when successful at Mornington) and a little bit more today, but we’ve still got a fair way to go.”
Moody thought enough of Amigo to have a tilt at the Blue Diamond Series as a two-year-old last year.
After running fifth to Barber on debut in the Blue Diamond Prelude, Amigo was an emergency for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes but failed to gain a start.
After three more starts as a late two-year-old, early three-year-old, Amigo was gelded and is unbeaten in two runs at 1000m this campaign.
“He became a bit of a thinker as a colt,” Moody said.
“His last run here he was going to run straight past them, but he didn’t try. Now I’ve got to think whether he ran the trip out or didn’t.
“We may look for an 1100-metre or 1200-metre race and see how he handles that and then maybe stretch him out further, but he’s come back in good order and seems to be applying himself.”
The Snitzel x You're So Good gelding goes back-to-back for @moodyracingpgm ✌️ pic.twitter.com/zoiqeXAbf6
— Racing.com (@Racing) January 17, 2024
More Racing News
War Machine to target the 2026 Australia Stakes
Top-class sprinter War Machine will resume in the Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Pakenham on Friday night as connections eye a strong autumn campaign. The race, traditionally held at Moonee Valley, has been moved due to redevelopment works and shapes as an ideal launchpad for the Lindsay Park galloper. War Machine...
2026 Golden Slipper Stakes favourite Incognito nearing return to the races
The absence of Incognito from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic did little to dent his standing in Golden Slipper markets, with the colt edging closer to a raceday return. Michael Freedman elected to sidestep the Gold Coast feature with the $1 million purchase, instead opting for a controlled trial as the...
Antino to target 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn
A strong trial session at Deagon on Tuesday will be highlighted by the return of Antino as Tony Gollan begins plotting another autumn campaign for the talented gelding. Antino has not raced since his disappointing effort in the Group 1 Cox Plate, where he finished last after failing to fire on...
Torque To Be Sure breaks maiden in 2026 Magic Millions Guineas, survives protest
Torque To Be Sure finally lived up to his promise with a breakthrough victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 3yo Guineas, though his success came with a nervous wait in the stewards’ room. The Matthew Dunn-trained gelding drifted under pressure in the closing stages, bumping race favourite Ninja as the...
Unit Five powers home in the 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Unit Five announced himself as a rising star with a powerful victory in the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, overcoming far more seasoned rivals despite limited race experience. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt, ridden confidently by Thomas Stockdale, held off Tornado Valley by a length, with By Choice finishing just behind...
Future History too strong in the 2026 January Cup
Future History showed his class and toughness when landing the $200,000 Listed January Cup at Rosehill, giving Ciaron Maher another feature race success. The eight-year-old almost didn’t take his place in the race after heavy rain downgraded the track, but connections elected to press on despite concerns about the conditions. Ridden positively...
Big Sky surges into 2026 Blue Diamond Stakes calculations
Big Sky’s dominant debut at Flemington has propelled him straight into calculations for the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), giving Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr the top two runners in early betting. The Bivouac colt overcame a wide draw in the TAB We’re On (1000m), travelling strongly under Jordan...
Mile no issue for Merrigold in 2026 Vobis Gold Distaff
Trainer John Sadler admitted a touch of stubbornness delayed Merrigold’s step up to 1600 metres, but the mare made him look wise with a dominant Flemington victory. The five-year-old was having her first start beyond 1400 metres and handled the rise in distance with ease when taking out the Vobis Gold...
Golden Slipper Stakes 2026 plans for Godolphin’s Outspan
The Godolphin-trained Outspan has thrust himself into Golden Slipper calculations after a commanding win at Rosehill on Saturday. After settling just behind the speed in the 1100m contest, the Michael Freedman-trained colt finished strongly to defeat Long Throw ($15) by 1-1/2 lengths, with Miss Chanel ($4.60) another half-length back. The performance marked...
Tony Gollan’s two-year-old Itching To Go in 2026 Magic Millions Classic
Tony Gollan is leaning on a proven strategy as Itchintogo lines up on a seven-day backup in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) this Saturday. The approach has delivered strong results historically, with six winners of the $3 million race following the same path over the past 15 years. Purchased for $60,000...